CODCO's Greg Malone to be recognized by ACTRA

Comedian Greg Malone is getting a big award from the Newfoundland and Labrador branch of the union representing Canadian performers.

Malone is set to receive the Alliance Of Canadian Television & Radio Artists (ACTRA) Award of Excellence at an event in St. John's next week.

"It feels very nice to be remembered. And to be recognized by your peers is a bit of a treat," he told CBC News from his home in Avondale.

"I had no suspicion this was coming my way, but it's very nice."

Malone is best known for his appearances in CODCO,  the legendary sketch comedy series, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1992.

Before CODCO he was known from the musical comedy group Wonderful Grand Band. In recent years, he had a recurring role on CBC's Republic of Doyle. 

Malone still isn't completely sure why he had such a successful career, but said his ability to imitate others so easily may have had something to do with it.

"I've always been a good mimic," he said.

"I got a lot of trouble at school for that, I just couldn't help imitating people"

Over the years, he has done impressions of many public figures often taking a satirical approach to knock them off their pedestal.

"I'm a satirist, and a political satirist," he said,

"I've done all the presidents, the Queen — anyone who has poked their head up above the margin"

His most recent project had him playing former American Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld in the National Arts Centre's theatre production of Stuff Happens.

He said as a young boy growing up in Newfoundland, he never expected to be able to pursue comedy as a serious career in his home province — and to see CODCO and his other projects reach the level of popularity that they did.

"Who knew you could be a professional actor in Newfoundland in the 50s and early 60s," he said.

"We had a laughs and fun over the years, a lot of tears too, that's just the way it is — highs and lows."